I really appreciated Tracy Hummphries’ talk on BCEd Access and accessibility in schools more broadly.
One thing that has really stuck with me since this talk has been the Exclusion Tracker. It is great that this tool exists, as much as we all wish it didn’t need to. Reading through the latest report it is clear that there are many aspects of inclusive education in our schools that need to be worked on in B.C. As an incoming teacher, I view myself as one of many that need to take on the responsibility of ensuring all students are included and that ableism is addressed and not perpetrated in our classrooms.
In order to do this work, I know I have some pre-work to do. To start off this area of preparation in my teaching practice, I’ve started searching for resources that I hope to consult and familiarize myself with before I get into the classroom.
https://choiceschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IEP-Resource-Guide.pdf
Additionally, BCEdAccess has put together a list of resources that will also I’m sure be of use to me and many others. Please let me know of any other useful resources you come across, as I believe this kind of learning should be lifelong.
Lastly, I wanted to share this Twitter thread that has given me a lot to think about. While Twitter is not always the best place to go for advice, listening to people with lived experience is an essential role in addressing ableism in our classrooms. Social media can be a helpful tool for this, either through threads like these or the Facebook group Tracy shared with us.